Switch



Sept. 8, 1936. w. c. EDWARDS SWITCH Filed March 17, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 5;; ATTORNEY/4 Sept.: 8, 1935. w c EDWARDS 2,@53,948

SWITCH Filed March 17, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a INVENTOR B +71%, 65M @u W ATTORNEYAQ Sept. 8, 1936. w. c. EDWARDS SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 17, 1934 Raw i? wmv Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCH Application March 17, 1934, Serial No. 716,074

7 Claims. (Cl. 200-11) This invention relates to electric switches particularly for controlling vehicle lamp circuits including head lamp having main and auxiliary filaments.

An object of the invention is to provide a switch which, in one position turns on the parking lights, in another position turns on the main filaments, in another position turns on the auxiliary filaments, and in still another position turns on the main filament of one head lamp and the auxiliary filament of another head lamp.

A further object is to provide a lighting circuit switch of compact construction adapted to be mounted upon the lower end of a steering column and to be operated by a shaft passing through the column.

A further object is to house the terminals of the switch by means which will provide ready access to the wire attaching screws of the terminals.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompany? ing drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the switch embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the parts of the switch in disassembled relation.

Fig. 4 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 4 of Fig. 5 and showing only the switch back and terminal block.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the switch the section being taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view of the switch showing the inside face of the switch back, this view being taken in the direction of the arrow 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a View of the movable switch contact taken in the direction of the arrow 1 of Fig. 5.

Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views taken respectively on the line 8-8 and 99 of Fig. 7.

Figs. 10 to 14 inclusive are wiring diagrams illustrating the use of the present invention.

Figs. 10a to 14a respectively are diagrammatic views showing the switch contact carrier and are drawn in various positions conforming respectively to the diagrams of Figs. 10'to 14 inelusive.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, 20 designates a cup-shaped switch housing having a flat end wall 2| attached in any suitable manner to a bracket 22 which preferably attaches the housin 20 to the lower end of a steering column of an automobile. The wall 20 is provided with a central hole 23 through which extends a drive shaft 24 having a key slot 25. The shaft 24 extends into the steering column and is operated by a lever located within the space within the rim of the steering wheel. The wall 2| is also provided with integral lugs 26 and 21 which serve as stops to limit rotation of the movable contact of the switch in a manner to be described later. The wall 2| is provided also with an annular row of holes 28 which cooperate with projections or axially' movable parts in order to yieldingly maintain the switch in its various positions as will be described later.

The shaft 24 cooperates with the shaft connector or switch driving member 30 having a central bore 3| into which the shaft 24 extends. Protruding into this bore is a key formed integrally with the shaft connector 30 by forcing some of the metal of the side wall of the connector 3D inwardly thereby leaving a depression 32 on the exterior thereof. The connector 30 is provided adjacent its right hand end with flats 33 and 34 and by adapting said right hand end of the connector 30 to be pushed into the central opening 35 formed in a drive plate 36, said central opening having flats 33a and 34a. which are engageable by the flats 33 and 34 of the connector or driving member 30. The driving plate 36 is provided with lugs 31 and 38 adapted to engage the lugs 21 and 26 respectively, of the end wall 2| of the housing 20 thereby limiting rotation of the plate 36 by the shaft 24. Plate 36 is provided with integral lugs 39, each of which is reduced in width near its free end so as to provide shoulders 40 and a portion 4| in less width than other portions of the lug. The lugs 39 are received by notches 42 in a detent plate 43 having a central opening 44 adapted to receive the shaft connector 30. The detent plate 43 is provided with depressions 45 which extend toward the right of the drawings thereby providing spherical bosses extending from the face of the plate which is adjacent the end wall 2| of the switch housing 20. The bosses formed by the depressions 45 extend through holes 46 in the driving plate 36 and are received by certain ones of the annular row of holes 28. The drive plate 36 is spaced from the wall 2| by a washer 41 adapted to embrace the shaft connector 30. The detent plate 43 is yieldingly urged toward the end wall 2| by a spring 48 the right hand end of which bears against detent plate 36 and the left hand central opening 50 of which embraces the reduced end portion 5| of the shaft connector 30 and is held in this position due to engagement with the back of the switch when the parts are assembled as will be described later. The right hand end of the spring 68 is retained in the some- 'what concentric relation with respect to the shaft connector 30 by providing the detent plate with an annular flange 52 as shown in Fig. 8, said flange being adapted to extend slightly within the first convolution of the spring.

Referring to Fig. 5,. it will be seen that the washer dl separates the drive plate slightly from the switch case wall 2I so as to reduce the friction while at the same time permitting the boss 45m formed by the depression 35 in the detent plate 43 to extend into the holes 28. Part of thebracket 22 through which th e shaft 2d extends is provided with an annular pocket 53 which receives a felt washer 56 adapted to flt snugly around a. shaft connector 30 in order to keep out dirt and other foreign matter.

Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 9 there is shown a contact carrier disc 60 of insulating material. The disc 60 is provided with an annular row of oblong holes 6i and two directly opposite oblong holes 62. The holes 5| are adapted to receive the end portions AI of the lugs or tangs 39 of the driving plate 36. The shoulders of the tangs 33 engage the contact carrier 60 and properly space the carrier 60 from the plate 36. The carrier 60 drives a contact ring 33 through its tangs 63 which extend through the oblong holes 62 and are bent at I55 against the opposite face of the carrier 60. The ring 63 is urged away from the carrier 60 by a spring 65, which is located between the parts 63 and 60 and bears against the adjacent face thereof. The spring 60 is retained substantially concentrically with the ring 63 by providing the ring 63 with integrally extending lugs 61 which extend within the end convolutions of the spring 66. The ring 63 is provided with spherical bosses which provide switch contacts 200, 20I and 202.

The carrier 60 drives a second movable contact member I0 which is arcuate in shape and is supported by three headed studs II along which the member I0 may slide longitudinally, said member being urged toward the heads of the studs II by springs I2 surrounding said studs and located between the members I0 and 60. The end portions I3 of the member I0 extend beyond the plane of the main portion I0 and are each provided with spherical bosses providing contacts 203 and 204. For a purpose to be described the ring contact member 63 and the arcuate contact member I0 are connected by a flexible conductor I5.

The switch case 20 is provided with an outwardly flared concentric wall 80 adapted to receive a switch back or contact block 8| which is retained in position by a wire ring 82 received by a groove 83 provided in the annular portion 83 of the switch case 20. Block 8i provides a central bearing for the portion 51 of the driving member 30. The contact block 8| which is ofnonconducting material carries stationary contacts IOI to I01 respectively as shown in Fig. 6. These contacts are in with the inner wall of the switch piece. Some of these contacts are provided by the heads of rivets which are used to secure to the outer face of the switch piece a number of connecting straps leading to the switch terminals to be described. In Fig; 4 these rivets are numbered I 0Ia; to I0Ia respectively their numbering Y aoeacss indicating their connection with contacts I Hi to I01, respectively. Contacts I02, I04, I06 and I0? are elongated, and rivets I02a, Nita, I06a and IBM pass respectively through these contacts, as shown inv Fig. 5. The straps which are connected with the rivets I0 Ia to I0'Iaare numbered Hill; to I0Ib, respectively. These straps connect their respective rivets with eyelets of the tubular rivets I file to I0'Ic, respectively. These tubular rivets are molded in the non-conducting terminal block IIO. Each rivet is threaded and receives a terminal screw. The screws corresponding with the contact rivets I0 I a. to I0'Ia are numbered IOId to IOId. Each terminal screw is associated with a wire retainer plate III and the plates are separated from each other by lugs or partitions H2. Certain of these lugs bear indicia as indicated inorder to identify the terminals. The terminal block H0 is provided with an outwardly extending flange H5 upon which wires such as shown in H6 in Figs. 1 and 2 are adapted to rest when the switch is mounted upon the lower end of the steering column.

The terminal block H0 and the wires connected therewith are enclosed by a housing consisting of members I20 and I2I. The member I20 is somewhat in the form of a cylindrical shell having a flat end portion I22 and an inclined end portion I23. The cylindrical side wall I24 is provided with an aperture for receiving lug I25 provided by the annular portion 03 of the switch case 20. In this way the arcuate edge portion of the member I20 is retained upon the bead 83a which is formed when providing the ring groove 83. The member I20 is provided with holes I26 which serve as drain holes since, when the switch is applied to the steering column, the wall I23 will occupy the lowermost position. The screw I21 passes through a suitable hole in the member I20 and cooperates with a nut I28 carried by the terminal block I I0. In this way the member I 20 is fixed to the switch case. It is not necessary to remove the member I20 when tightening the connections between the wires and switch terminals. To accomplish this it is only necessary to'move the housing member I2I which is hingedly attached to member I20. The cylindrical edge is provided with two lugs I30 which are adapted to'be received by oblong holes I3I in the end wall I32 of the member I2I. The arcuate edge portion of the member-IZI is retained upon bead 83a of the switch case by a screw I33 which passes through a notch I34 of the member I 2| and is received by a threaded hole provided in an ear I35 of the switch case member I20. The member I2I is provided with an outwardly extending flange I36 which is complementary to the flange H5 of the terminal block IIO. Hence the two flanges II 5 and I36 provide a conduit through which wires may be brought out from the terminal compartment within the members I20 and I2I. The member I20 is provided with a lip I31 which is interrupted by the flange I36. This lip overlies the mating edge portion of the member I20 thereby forming a joint which tends to exclude dirt and other foreign matter.

Referring now to Figs. 10 to 14 inclusive, the operation of the switch will now be described. Referring first to Fig. 11 which shows. the switch in the off position, it is noted that the movable contacts 200 to 2044 inclusive are out of circuitmaking position, the stationary contact I0'I being engaged only by the contact 20I. The connections between the battery and lamp circuits and stationary contacts of the switch are as fol- -of the switch to the lamp circuits.

The main filaments of lamps I60 and I6I which produce beams substantially straight ahead are numbered I62 and I64, respectively. The auxiliary filaments which will direct beams downwardly upon the road within a few feet ahead of v the car are indicated by numbers I63 and H55. respectively. Wires I61 and I69, respectively, connect filaments I63 and I65, respectively, with contacts I03 and I06, respectively. Wires I66 and I68, respectively, connect the filaments I62 and I64, respectively, with contacts I02 and IOI, respectively. In order to turn on the parking lights, the switch handle is turned in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in the diagram, thereby moving the movable contacts into the position shown in Figs. 10 and 10a. In this position the battery contact I04 is connected with contact I01 connected with the tail lamp I51 which burns as indicated by arrow I51a. Contact I04 is also connected with contact I05 leading to the parking or side lamps I53 which burn as indicated by arrow I53a. The head lamps ar not connected with the battery.

Figs. 12 and 12a show the city driving position of the movable contacts. It is apparent that the movable contacts connect the battery with the stationary contacts of the switch which are connected, respectively, with the tail lamp and -the head lamp auxiliary filaments I63 and I65 which give the depressed beams as indicated by arrows 5311 and IBM. The switch is moved into city driving position by a clockwise movement of the movable contact as shown in the diagram.

Further clockwise movement of the switch contacts, as viewed in the diagram will bring them into the country passing position as shown in Figs. 13 and 13a. In this position, filament I62 of the left hand head lamp I60 and filament I65 of the right hand head lamp I6I are caused to burn as indicated by arrows I64a and I65a. This shows that the left hand lamp will throw a beam straight ahead while the right hand lamp will give illumination to the right hand margin of the road.

Further clockwise movement of the movable switch contacts, as viewed in the diagram, will bring these contacts intoposition for country driving as shown in Figs. 14 and 14a. Fig. 14 shows that the filaments I62 and I64 of the head lamp are connected with the battery thereby causing beams to be thrown straight ahead by both lamps as indicated by arrows I62a and I64a.

It is therefore apparent that the present switch connects the parking lamps with the battery by moving the switch handle above the steering column toward the left from the Oh position. Movement of the switch handle from Off position toward the right, as viewed from the drivers seat, will cause the switch contacts to be first brought into the city driving position. The next position toward the right following the city driving position is the country passing position and the final position toward the right is the country driving position. The advantage of arranging the circuits to be-set up by these difierent positions of the switch handle will be apparent. It is easy to remember that the parking lights will burn when the switch handle is moved as far as possible toward the left from Off position; and that the country driving position of the switch is obtained by moving the switch handle as far as possible toward the right. When passing another car in driving in the country, the switch handle is moved one position toward the left while passing, and is then moved back again toward the right after the approaching car has passed. It is easy to remember that city driving position is obtained by moving the right hand switch lever into the first ,position toward the right toward the Off position.

This control of circuits is obtained by the use of one switch member.

The switch is a relatively compact structure due to the fact that the movable contacts are arranged in two concentric rows one within the other and are arranged to cooperate with stationary contacts located in the same plane. Since all five of the movable contact bosses are not mounted on the same contact member satisfactory contact pressure between all of the movable contacts and the stationary contacts can be effected. As shown, the contact ring 63 carries three of the contact bosses which engage the inner row of stationary contacts with substantially equal pressure which is exerted by a single coil spring 66. The other two contact bosses 203 and 204 are mounted upon an independent member 10 which is urged by independent springs 12 toward the outer row of stationary contacts. The members 63 and 10 are connected by a flexible wire 15 which does not interfere with action of these members in pressing their contact bosses with satisfactory pressure against the stationary contacts.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A switch comprising, in combination, two concentric arcuate rows of stationary contacts in the same plane, a rotatable contact carrier, a contact ring having contact bosses and supported by the carrier coaxially thereof, means provided by the ring and carrier whereby the carrier rotates the ring and separation of the ring from the carrier is limited, a helical spring located between the ring and carrier, an arcuate contact segment located outside the ring, means resiliently supporting the segment by the carrier, and a flexible wire connecting the ring and segment.

2. A switch comprising, in combination, a switch case having end walls providing aligned openings, one of which provides a bearing, a driving member journalled in said bearing, a driving plate mounted on the member and connected therewith, a detent plate movable along the driving member and having detents cooperating with openings in one end wall of the case, a helical spring urging the detent plate toward said end wall, a contact carrier, means connecting the driving plate with the detent plate and contact carrier and permitting movement of the detent plate along the driving member, movable contacts mounted upon the carrier, and stationary contacts supported by the other end wall of the case.

3. A switch comprising, in combination, a switch case having end walls providing aligned openings, one of which provides a bearing, a

driving member journalled in said bearing, a driving plate mounted on the member and connected therewith, a detent plate movable along the driving member and having detents cooperating with openings in one end wall of 'the case, a helical spring urging the detent plate toward said end wall and bearing against the opposite end wall, a contact carrier, means connecting the driving plate with the detent plate and contact carrier and permitting movement of the detent plate along the driving member, movable contacts mounted upon the carrier and including a contact ring surroundingsaid spring, a helical spring surrounding the first helical spring and urging said contact ring away from the contact carrier, and means provided by the ring and carrier whereby the carrier rotates the ring and separation of the ring from the carrier is limited.

4. In a switch, a switch case including a contact block, a terminal block supported by the contact block, and carrying terminals, a housing for the terminals including part fixed with respect to the case and a part which is movable to expose the terminals while the other part remains fixed, and cooperating extensions provided by the terminal block and movable housing part, said extensions cooperating to form a wire conduit extending exteriorly of the housing.

5. A lighting switch comprising, a housing comprising an open cylindrical cup, a switch back seated within the open end of the cup and providing a plurality of contact members, said housing and switch back enclosing switch structure cooperating with the contacts, a terminal block 5 supported from the switch back and providing terminals connecting each with a contact, a split cover enclosing the terminal block and telescopically engaging the open end of the housing cup, said cover comprising a half section rigidly l0 supported upon the terminal block, and a removable section hingedly connected to the rigid section, and means for retaining the removable section in fixed engagement'with the housing cylindrical portion. l5

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein the hinged connection of the two half sections comprise an apertured fiange on the removable section and cooperating tongues for registry with the apertures on the fixed section.

7. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein the terminal block has a lateral semicylindrlcal extension extending through. the fixed half cover section, and the removable cover section has a semicylindrical lateral extension cooperating with 25 the extension of the terminal block providing a tubular guideway for leads connectedwith the terminals. I

CORRELL il 

